Security alarm actuating device

ABSTRACT

The invention is a security device for sensing the unauthorized opening of a gate or the like, the device including an electrical series loop incorporated into a mechanical structure mounted directly on relatively movable members of the gate. Fixedly mounted on one of the gate members is a frame which carries a normally open electrical switch. A rod for operating the switch is removably mounted in the frame in such a position as to engage and hold the switch closed. A lock removably secures the rod to the frame in this switch-closing position. An electrical terminal block is secured to the same gate member and has mechanically and electrically connected thereto the opposite ends of a flexible electrical cable. The cable is mechanically secured between its ends to the rod and is passed around the other gate member so as to prevent more than a predetermined degree of relative movement of said members. The switch and the cable are electrically connected in series such that severing of the cable or opening of the switch by removal of the lock and rod from the frame will result in an open circuit which may be utilized for setting off an alarm.

United States Patent [1 Roy et a1.

[ SECURITY ALARM ACTUATING DEVICE [76] Inventors:v Wilho R. Roy, 7031Cross Ln., Fort Wayne, Ind. 46815; Stanley P. Pasavage, 806 Three RiversE., Fort Wayne, Ind. 46802 22 Filed: July 14, 1972 211 Appl. No.:271,899

[52] US. Cl 340/274, 340/256,.200/6108,

292/1, 116/8, 70/432 [51] Int. Cl. G08b 13/08 [58] Field of Search340/274, 276, 280,

/6 70/l8, 30, 49, 435, 432, 441; 292/1, 253; 116/6, 8; ZOO/61.08

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,714,644 1/1973 Hellstrom340/274 Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-William M.Wannisky Attorney- Harold B. Hood, George A. Gust et al.

[ Aug. 21, 1973 [5 7] ABSTRACT as to engage and hold the switch closed.A lock removably secures the rod to the frame in this switch-closingposition. An electrical terminal block is secured to the same gatemember and has mechanically and electrically connected thereto theopposite ends of a flexible electrical cable. The cable is mechanicallysecured between its ends to the rod and is passed around the other gatemember so as to prevent more than a predetermined degree of relativemovement of said members. The switch and the cable are electricallyconnected in series such that severing of the cable or opening of theswitch by removal of the lock and rod from the frame will result in anopen circuit which may be utilized for setting off an alarm.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAUBZI ma FICLI n \llllllll/ n 8 u n2 u n M U WU u u 4 n M n am u n 1 2 n n H a l. Y m u H n mvll nu 8 l/ l.2 5 4 5 IO T0 BUEGLAR ALARM SENSING EQUIPME BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally tosecurity systems and more particularly to the sensing of relativemovement of two juxtaposed members, such as the adjacent frame membersof a gate when the latter is closed.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Perimeter fences are customarilyprovided with gates that are conventionally locked. Many such gates areof the swinging type which fit loosely thereby seldom closing inthe'same relative position. The provision of security sensing devices onsuch gates has not, therefore, been considered practical or convenientlyfeasible inasmuch as such devices are usually dependent upon ratherprecise positioning of the relatively moveable members upon gate or doorclosure. Essential elements of an intrusion alarm system include (I)sensing the intrusion, (2) transmission'of this information to a pointremote therefrom, and (3) response to this information. In sensing theintrusion, it is known to utilize magnetic and electrical devices whichprovide a signal upon relative movement of two members, such as a doorand its casing. The opening of an electrical loop is a classic alarmdetection method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the broader aspects of thisinvention, there is provided a security alarm device for sensin grelative movement of two gate members comprising a frame adapted to besecured to one of said members which mounts an electrical normally openswitch provided with an operating member. The frame includes guide meansfor removably receiving a rod element in position to engage and actuatesaid operating member, a lock being used to removably secure the elementto the frame in this position. An electrical terminal block adapted tobe secured to the same one gate member has opposite ends of a flexibleelectrical cable both electrically and mechanically secured thereto, thecable being secured between its ends to the rod element. With both theframe and the terminal block secured tosaid one gate element, theflexible cable is passed around the other gate member when the two gatemembers are juxtaposed upon gate closure. The switch and the cable areelectrically connected in series such that the opening of the switch orthe severing of the cable will result in an open circuit which may beutilized by a conventional alarm system (not a part of this invention)to actuate an alarm.

It is an object of this invention to provide a security alarm-sensingdevice adapted to detect the opening of a gate.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a sensing devicefor use in connection with a typical, loosely fitted fence gate for thepurpose of detecting the opening thereof.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention andthe manner of attaining them will become more apparent and the inventionitself will be best understood by reference to the following descriptionof an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially exploded andsectioned view of one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, theinvention is shown as being used or combined with a typical gate in aconventional chain-link fence in which two upright juxtaposed gatemembers or posts 10 and 12 which are relatively moveable with respect toeach other, are shown as when the gate is closed. The posts 10 and 12are parts of the two relatively moveable gate frames (not shown) and inthe usual instance have a manually operable lock mounted thereon forselectively securing the gate in closed position. The structuredescribed thus far is conventional.

Secured to the upright 12 is an electrical terminal box 14, this box 14preferably being totally enclosed and sealed, and having a bracketportion 16 secured to post 12 by means of a threaded connector whichwill be described more fully later on.

Inside the box 14 is an electrical terminal strip 18 (see FIG. 2) havingmutually insulated connectors thereon identified by the numerals 1through 6 of conventional construction. A flexible conductor 20preferably in the form of a coaxial cable is electrically connectedtothe connector strip 18 in the manner shown in FIG. 2, the centerconductor being connected to terminals 1 and 4 and the sheath 22 to theterminals 2 and 3. The coaxial cable 20 is conventional, having a coverof plastic or rubber insulating material thereon. The cable 20preferably is secured to the box 14 mechanically by means ofclose-fitting sleeves, cable clamps or rubber grommets 25. As will beevident from an examination of FIG. 2, the cable 20 constitutes a closedelectrical loop.

Secured to the post 12 is a frame or casing 24, having an elongatedcavity 26 therein. adapted to receive reciprocally aswitch-operatingelement or rod 28. Laterally extending from the frame 24 are twothreaded studs 30 which pass through respective openings 32 in the post12 to receive nuts 31 so as to clamp the frame 24 securely to'the post12. It should be noted that the terminal box 14 and the frame 24 are onopposite sides of the post 12, and that one of the studs 30 assesthrough an'opening in the bracket 16 to'securetheterminal' box 14 to thepost 12.

The cable 20 is passed through an opening 34 inthe bottom of the pin 28and there mechanically secured in place. Two registered'openings 36 and38 and the Pin 28 and frame 24, respectively, may be aligned so as toreceive the shackle 40 of an ordinary padlock 42. The openings 36 and 38are so sized and positioned that the pin 28 will be held in fixedposition inside the frame 24. It should be stated at this point that theframe 24 preferably is a complete enclosure with only .the lower endopen so as to receive the pin 28.

In the upper end of the frame 24 is fixedly mounted a normally open,single pole single throw hermetically sealed switch 44 having anoperating member in the form of a plunger 46. Plunger 46 isspring-biased outwardly such that when it is depressed the open switchcontacts will be closed. This switch 44, 46 is of conventionalconstruction. For the purpose of securing the switch 44 in placerelative to the frame 24, a flat plate or the like 48 closing the upperend of the frame 24 has an opening therethrough to receive the threadedextension 50 of the switch casing. A nut (not shown) received on theextension 50 secures the switch to the plate 48, hence to the frame 24.

The switch 44 is so positioned in the frame 24 that when the rod 28 isin the locked position shown, plunger 46 will be depressed and theswitch 44 closed. Upon removal of the shackle 40, the rod 28 will bepermitted to drop from the frame 24 thereby permitting the switch 44 toopen.

As shown in FIG. 2, switch 44 is connected to terminals 5 and 6 on strip18. Terminals l and 3 are connected in series as are terminals 4 and 5.In this circuit configuration, the switch 44 is connected in series withthe inner and outer conductors of the cable 20 such that should any oneof the inner or outer conductors of the cable 20 be cut or the switch 44opened, an open circuit would be presented at the terminals 52. Theseterminals 52 are connected into a conventional alarm system which isactivated by reason of the open circuit.

in operation, with the gate closed and the posts 10 and 12 juxtaposed asshown in FIG. 1, the cable is passed around the posts 10 and 12, and therod 28 is inserted into the frame 24 in position to receive the shackle40 of the lock 42. Engagement of the upper end of the rod 28 with theplunger 46 closes the switch 44 thereby presenting a closed circuit tothe terminals 52 (FIG. 2).

Should an intruder cut or otherwise remove the lock 42 from the rod andframe 28, 24, or in the alternative cut the cable 20, an open circuitwould be presented to the terminals 52 which would activate the alarmsystem. With the system locked as indicated in FIG. 1, the

cable 20 provides some measure of mechanical containment of the posts 10and 12 thereby resisting the opening of the gate. Alternatively, astranded'stainless steel, plastic covered cable may be paralleledmechanically with the cable 20 to provide additional security andcontainment, the free ends thereof being securely fastened to the box14. Since gates of this type fit loosely with rather widely varyingdimensional tolerances, it is seen that by reason of the length of thecable 20 rather large dimensional tolerances may be accommodated withoutimpairing the sensing efficacy of the device.

The upper end portion of the frame 24 is provided with a cap 54 whichenclosed a switch 44 thereby providing for a weather-resistantinstallation. The terminal box 14 is enclosed so as to exclude moistureor corrosive-laden atmosphere from the electrical connectionsthereinside. The locking device 40, 42 may alternatively be embodied ina cylinder lock having its frame secured permanently to the casing 24and a manually operable spring loaded bolt which would enter into anannular groove in the pin 28 to thereby lock the pin 28 to the casing24.

While there have been described above the principles of this inventionin connection with specific apparatus, it is to be clearly understoodthat this description is made only by way of example and not as alimitation to the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A security alarm device for sensing relative movement of two gatemembers comprising a frame adapted to be secured to one of said membersand mounting an electrical nonnally open switch provided with anoperating member, said frame including guiding means for removablyreceiving an elongated switch-operating element in position to engageand actuate said operating member, a lock removably securing saidelement to said frame in said position, electrical terminal block meansadapted to be secured to said one member and having opposite ends of anelongated flexible electrical conductor terminated thereon, saidconductor being secured between its ends to said element and of a lengthto be passed around the other of said members so as to prevent more thana predetermined degree of relative movement of said members.

2. The actuating device of claim 1 wherein said frame has an elongatedcavity which slidably receives said switch-operating element, saidelement and frame having aligned openings when said element is in saidposition, said lock including a shackle received by said openings forsecuring said element in position with respect to said frame.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said lock is manually actuable forremoving said shackle from said openings thereby to actuate said switchby removal of said element from said frame.

4. The device of claim 3 in which said conductor includes a coaxialcable having the ends of the center conductor and conductive sheathconnected to said terminal block means, said block means includingelectrical connections series connecting said center conductor andsheath together, said electrical switch being connected in series withone of said center conductor and sheath, the remaining end of the seriescircuit of said cable and switch being adapted to be connected into analarm system.

5. The device of claim 4 in which said element is a rod having adiametral opening therethrough which receives said cable, said framehaving stud elements thereon adapted to be secured to said one gatemember by means of threaded connectors.

6. The device of claim 4 in which the operating member of said switch isa plunger, the end of said rod engaging and depressing said plunger toclose said switch when said switch-operating element is in saidposition.

7. The device of claim 6 including in combination said two gate membersmounted to be moved relative to each other from a closed juxtaposedposition, said frame being in the form of an elongated closure open atone end to receive said element, said switch being mounted and enclosedin the other end of said frame, said frame being fixedly secured to saidone gate member, said terminal block means also being fixedly secured tosaid one gate member and including a terminal device providing saidelectrical connections and a protective housing therefor which guardsaccess to said electrical connections.

l i i l I! A tes ingf i er j fl U ITED AT NT OFFICE I V R I I A E O CT NPatnt iNbl 22: gid r uq-u g 21, 1-973 l f Wilho R'. Roy and StanleyPasavage f and that said :Lttejrs Ptent are hereby corrected as shownbelow:

Please co'rietthename of one of the (xi-inventors in thisapplicatiomnamely Stanley F. Pasavage, by changing'fihe'middle initial"P" t -F-.--'-.

Attest V EDWARD MLFLE$CIFIERQJRQF ENE D; I'TEIGTMEYERLI Ic-i s c rftifiid ,t fiat eirror'appears' in thflaboveddentified fiatgnt 313:1661 tnd --s eal i t is z5th a {or Dag-ember. 1973.

Ag?iIIgf QOITJIIliS SiOnGI' Patents I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i aCERTIFXCATE 0F CORRECHUN Patent No. 3,754,22 Dat Auqusezi, 1.973

lnventofls) Wilho R. Roy and Stanley F, Pasavage It is certified thaterror appears'in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected asshown below:

Please correct the name of one of the (Jo-inventors in thisapp.lication,namely Stanley P. Pasavage, by changing the middle initial"P" to -F--- Signed and sealed this 25th day of Deoember, 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETGHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEYER- Attesting Officer ActingCommissioner of Patents

1. A security alarm device for sensing relative movement of two gatemembers comprising a frame adapted to be secured to one of said membersand mounting an electrical normally open switch provided with anoperating member, said frame including guiding means for removablyreceiving an elongated switch-operating element in position to engageand actuate said operating member, a lock removably securing saidelement to said frame in said position, electrical terminal block meansadapted to be secured to said one member and having opposite ends of anelongated flexible electrical conductor terminated thereon, saidconductor being secured between its ends to said element and of a lengthto be passed around the other of said members so as to prevent more thana predetermined degree of relative movement of said members.
 2. Theactuating device of claim 1 wherein said frame has an elongated cavitywhich slidably receives said switch-operating element, said element andframe having aligned openings when said element is in said position,said lock including a shackle received by said openings for securingsaid element in position with respect to said frame.
 3. The device ofclaim 2 in which said lock is manually actuable for removing saidshackle from said openings thereby to actuate said switch by removal ofsaid element from said frame.
 4. The device of claim 3 in which saidconductor includes a coaxial cable having the ends of the centerconductor and conductive sheath connected to said terminal block means,said block means including electrical connections series connecting saidcenter conductor and sheath together, said electrical switch beingconnected in series with one of said center conductor and sheath, theremaining end of the series circuit of said cable and switch beingadapted to be connected into an alarm system.
 5. The device of claim 4in which said element is a rod having a diametral opening therethroughwhich receives said cable, said frame having stud elements thereonadapted to be secured to said one gate member by means of threadedconnectors.
 6. The device of claim 4 in which the operating member ofsaid switch is a plunger, the end of said rod engaging and depressingsaid plunger to close said switch when said switch-operating element isin said position.
 7. The device of claim 6 including in combination saidtwo gate members mounted to be moved relative to each other from aclosed juxtaposed position, said frame being in the form of an elongatedclosure open at one end to receive said element, said switch beingmounted and enclosed in the other end of said frame, said frame beingfixedly secured to said one gate member, said terminal block means alsobeing fixedly secured to said one gate member and including a terminaldevice providing said electrical connections and a protective housingtherefor which guards access to said electrical connections.